Diapering system: diaper and integral collector

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a diapering system ( 200 ) suitable for the collection of urine and faeces. Claimed and described is a diapering system comprising one human waste collection bag integral with one absorbent component (preferably a diaper like absorbent component) located outside of or adjacent to the collection bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a diapering system. The systemcomprises only integral components and is suitable for the collection ofurine and faeces, thereby providing improved fit and wearing comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Human waste collection bags, principally comprising faecalcollection bags and urine collection bags, are known articles ofmanufacture that are designed to be worn principally by incontinencesufferers and in particular by bedridden patients. Such human wastecollection bags are attached to the perianal or uro-genital region ofthe wearer and are intended to entrap and immediately contain faecalmaterial and other bodily discharges.

[0003] Representative prior art in the field of faecal collection bagsincludes the following documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,734,096 and 3,522,807disclose faecal collection bags provided with adhesive tabs to supportthe attachment of the collection bag to the human body. GB 2 152 387, GB2 215 605, SE 8 104 934 and EP 245 064 all disclose collection bagswhich are made from plastic materials and rely on an principally flatadhesive flange for attachment to and seal with the human body. JP8-117261 discloses a faecal collection bag, which is attached to thebody by sheets of material cut to surround the lower parts of the bodysimilar to a piece of underwear. U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,656 discloses a twopiece faecal collection bag. The piece providing the collection capacitycan be emptied or replaced while the other piece remains engaged in bodycontact.

[0004] Representative disclosures of urine collection bags are, forinstance, found in the following documents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,377discloses a collection bag for urine specimens from children. U.S. Pat.No. 3,292,626 discloses a urine collection bag for female infants.

[0005] Some prior art documents disclose devices for multipleincontinence: For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,989 discloses a devicefor female users comprising a plastic bag for the collection of both,urine and faeces. The bag is provided with a flange portion to cover theurinary duct and the anus, the flange comprising elastic straps forattachment to the body. U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,093 discloses a collectorfor urine and faeces comprising two attached bags for the respectivecollection of urine and faeces. Those devices, however, do not compriseany absorbent means within or outside these collection bags. Hence inuse these devices easily become a source of leakage and/or of malodour.

[0006] The prior art further describes a multitude of diapers, forbabies as well as for adults, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No.3,860,003 and in WO 93/16669. Despite the enormous progress made inproviding high capacity absorbent cores, one may however want to providefor some user groups a urine and/or faecal collection bag. As comparedto conventional diapers human waste collection bags apart frompotentially providing larger capacity in particular provide the benefitof better separation of human waste from the skin of the wearer. Suchseparation from the skin may also allow for longer wearing times of thedevice giving a comfort and environmental benefit.

[0007] A considerable group of users of incontinence devices is both,urine and faecal incontinent. Those user's namely include babies, butalso unhealthy and elderly people. The degree of incontinence is highlyindividual and may be different with regard to the different kinds ofincontinence, i.e. urine or faecal. For example, a wearer may experienceslight urine incontinence and severe faecal incontinence or vice versa.Hence, there is a need for a device which can be provided to suit suchindividual incontinence needs.

[0008] As generally known in the art with regard to adhesively attachedhuman waste collection bags, detachment and following reattachment ofanother human waste collection bag is typically stressful for the skinof the wearer to which the human waste collection bag is attached. It isvery desirable to avoid any additional stress or even pain for the skinof the wearer which may be particularly sensitive due to contact withfaecal matter or urine. Therefore, it is desirable to provide otherand/or additional attachment means for a human waste collection bag, sothat less or no adhesive can be employed.

[0009] Another problem well known in the art is that of the properplacement of a human waste collection bag, again in particular for thosedevices designed for adhesive attachment to the wearer's skin. Total orsubstantial misplacement of the device will lead to a severemisfunctioning, may it be leaking or may it even be unintentionaldetachment.

[0010] In view of the prior art there remains a need for an incontinencedevice which:

[0011] provides improved urine and faecal incontinence care

[0012] can be provided to suit individual incontinence needs

[0013] is environmentally friendly

[0014] provides high objective and subjective reassurance regardingleaking and unintentional detachment

[0015] is comfortable to wear, for bedridden, but also for activewearer's

[0016] engages in a reliable seal with the human body, while avoidingstress for the wearer's skin

[0017] can easily be positioned and applied

[0018] These and other objectives are addressed by the present inventionas apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention relates to a diapering system (200)suitable for the collection of urine and faeces. Claimed and describedis a diapering system comprising one human waste collection bag integralwith one absorbent component (preferably a diaper like absorbentcomponent) located outside of or adjacent to the collection bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] It is believed that the invention will be better understood fromthe foregoing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a faecalcollection bag.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a urinecollection bag. L denotes the longitudinal direction and T denotes thetransversal direction.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a diapercomponent to be used in accordance with the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a diapering system provided with afaecal collection bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] According to the present invention a diapering system (200) isprovided which comprises a human waste collection bag component integralwith an absorbent component, preferably a diaper component (100).

[0026] The term “integral”, as used herein with regard to the componentsof a diapering system (200), denotes components which are attached toanother, preferably by a means of juncture, most preferably permanentlyattached to another, so that the system can be handled, attached to thehuman body and worn as one part and not as a multitude of separateparts.

[0027] The term collection bag, as used herein, encompasses thecollection bag component of the diapering system and denotes the wholefunctional entity, i.e. not only the bag (11), but also the associatedparts, such as the flange (12).

[0028] The collection bag is liquid resistant and preferably liquidimpervious. A collection bag filled with faeces will essentially retainthose faeces even if not being fully liquid impervious. In one aspectthis is due to the non-liquid nature of typical faeces. In anotheraspect this is due to the positioning of the collection bag under thetopsheet of the diapering system (200) in preferred embodiments of thisinvention. Hence, preferably the undesirable contact of faeces with theskin of a wearer is not only hindered by the material of the collectionbag, but further hindered by the material of the diapering system (200)topsheet, so that the relevant level of liquid resistance is provided bythe material of the collection bag in combination with material of thediapering system (200) topsheet. It has been found that a collection bagprovided from a single layer of non-woven material works well for afaecal collection bag (10). For a urine collection bag it is preferredthat the material of the collection bag at least in combination with thematerial of the diapering system (200) topsheet is liquid impervious.

[0029] The aperture (21) of the collection bag (11) is preferably only asmall opening, in that the circumference of the aperture (21) asmeasured along the inner periphery of the flange (12) is preferablysmaller than at least one circumference measured in any direction alongthe inner layer of the bag (11) material. Preferably the circumferenceof the aperture (21) measures no more than 90%, more preferably no morethan 80%, yet more preferably no more than 70%, yet more preferably nomore than 50%, most preferably no more than 30% of the smallestcircumference measured in any direction along the inner layer of the bag(11) material. Such a small aperture (21) is beneficial in suppressingleakage and malodour.

[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described inthe following paragraphs, while the human waste collection bag component(FIGS. 1 and 2) and the absorbent component (FIG. 3) are describedthereafter.

[0031] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention theabsorbent component and the human waste collection bag do not have anycommon components apart from those which provide the juncture. Thejuncture may comprise points of juncture or one or more lines or curvesof juncture provided by means known in the art, such as thermo-bonding,ultrasonic bonding, adhesive means, stitching, thermo-crimping, coldcrimping.

[0032] In other preferred embodiments of the present invention elementsor portions of elements are comprised by both the human waste collectionbag and the absorbent component. For example, preferably the backsheetof the diapering system (200) is continuous and hence comprised by bothcomponents. In another preferred embodiment the topsheet of thediapering system (200) is continuous and hence comprised by bothcomponents.

[0033]FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment a diapering system (200) is provided from a diapercomponent (100) as an absorbent component and a faecal collection bag(10). The diaper component (100) essentially comprises a topsheet, abacksheet and an absorbent core disposed in-between. The faecalcollection bag (10) is disposed generally in the area of the diaperingsystem (200) which is adjacent to the anus of the wearer when thediapering system (200) is worn. In this preferred embodiment noabsorbent core material is present in this area of the diaper component(100). In this preferred embodiment the topsheet and the backsheet arecomprised by the diaper component (100) as well as by the faecalcollection bag component (10) of the diapering system (200). Hence, thetopsheet is provided with an aperture which comprises the aperture ofthe faecal collection bag (10), i.e. the periphery of the aperture ofthe faecal collection bag (10) is within the periphery of the apertureof the diaper topsheet.

[0034] In preferred embodiments of the present invention the bag (11) ofthe faecal collection bag component (10) is positioned between thebacksheet and the topsheet of the diaper component (100). Preferredembodiments of the present invention comprise those in which the bag(11) of the faecal collection bag (10) is positioned between thetopsheet and the absorbent core and those in which the bag (11) of thefaecal collection bag (10) is positioned between the absorbent core andthe backsheet. In the latter embodiment the absorbent core (58) isprovided with an orifice to allow the transfer of human waste from theaperture of the faecal collection bag (10) into the bag (11).

[0035] In highly preferred embodiments of the present invention there isno absorbent core provided in the area of the faecal collection bag (10)of the diaper component (100). Since faeces will to a large extend andpreferably fully be contained in the faecal collection bag (10),absorbent core is only or predominately only needed to store urine.Therefore, sufficient absorbent core can be provided in the areagenerally adjacent to the uro-genital area of the wearer. For the sameconsiderations in preferred embodiments of the present inventioncomprising a urine collection bag, no absorbent core is adjacent to theuro-genital area. In such embodiments the outer layer of the wearerfacing portion (16) of the bag (11) and the outer layer of the garmentfacing portion (17) of the bag (11) are substantially not in directcontact with absorbent core. Absence of absorbent core in these areasallows the design of a less bulky product, which hence provides morewearing comfort.

[0036] The provision of the faecal collection bag (10) in any of theabove described positions will make the faecal collection bag (10)integral with the diaper component (100), for example since portions ofthe faecal collection bag component (10) are positioned under thetopsheet of the diaper component (100).

[0037] However, in preferred embodiments of the present invention thefaecal collection bag component (10) and the diaper component willfurther be permanently attached to one another by means known in theart, such as thermo-bonding, ultrasonic bonding, adhesive means,stitching, thermocrimping, cold crimping. For example, portions of thebag (11) of the faecal collection bag component (10) may be attached toany portion of the diaper component (100), preferably to the topsheet,the backsheet or the absorbent core.

[0038] If the absorbent component is a diaper component, the diaperingsystem (200) may comprise leg cuffs (62) as typically present in aconventional diaper and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 and in WO93/16669, whereas in another preferred embodiment the diapering system(200) does not comprise leg cuffs (62). Since the faecal collection bag(10) of this embodiment has been found to reliably collect all faecesand since the absorbent component provided outside the bag (11) has beenfound to reliably collect all urine and other bodily discharges, thereis no need to design the diapering system (200) for a tight fit andsealing with the body as to prevent leakage of human waste. Thereforethis preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a looser andmore comfortable fit as compared with conventional diapers whileexhibiting the same or even better performance in collecting humanwaste.

[0039] Moreover, the smaller form and absence of parts such as leg cuffs(62) allows to save material and storage costs. Furthermore, it iscontemplated to provide a diapering system (200) according to thepresent invention without or with less waist elastics and without orreduced other elastics typically comprised by a conventional diaper.However, diapering systems (200) comprising leg cuffs and other elasticcomponents are also preferred.

[0040] The diapering system (200) of the present invention can be placedon the human body more easily than single human waste collection bagssince it has the overall form of a body fitting garment. Therefore, itcan be provided with means to secure it around the lower body of thewearer such as fastening devices, preferably fastening tabs (54) asshown in FIG. 3 and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 and in WO93/16669. This allows the use of more skin friendly adhesive for theflanges, since such adhesives do not need to provide strength to holdthe diapering system in place as a whole. Hence, preferred diaperingsystems (200) comprise means for attachment to the human body inaddition to the means for attachment comprised by the flange (12)(typically an adhesive). For example, according to the present inventiona diapering system (200) may be provided which comprises an attachmentmeans not being comprised by the flange (12).

[0041] Since the diapering system (200) of FIG. 4 largely resembles inshape an undergarment, such as a panty, it can be worn without wearingany further undergarments. Some wearers experience this as moreconvenient and comfortable.

[0042] The Human Waste Collection Bag Component

[0043] Human waste collection bags comprise faecal collection bags (10)and urine collection bags. As used herein any reference to humancollection bags, faecal collection bags (10) or urine collection bags isto be understood as encompassing any such bags which are components ofdiapering systems (200), also referred to as human waste collection bagcomponents, faecal collection bag components (10) or urine collectionbag components, respectively. Both types of collection bags can comprisesimilar or alike components and materials and are therefore describedtogether. A typical faecal collection bag (10) is shown in FIG. 1 and atypical urine collection bag is shown in FIG. 2. Faecal collection bags(10) are designed for attachment to the anal area and mainly used forcollecting faeces, whereas urinary collection bags are attached to theurinary duct and mainly used for collecting urine. All of the abovehuman waste collection bags are preferably designed for single use anddisposal thereafter.

[0044] Typically human waste collection bags comprise a bag (11) havingan aperture (21) and a flange (12) surrounding the aperture forpreferably adhesive attachment to the perianal area of a wearer asvisible from FIG. 1. Any human waste collection bag known in the art canbe provided according to the present invention.

[0045] The bag (11) as used herein is a flexible receptacle for thecontainment of excreted faecal matter or urine. The bag (11) is designedto safely contain any entrapped material, typically it will be liquidimpermeable, yet it may be breathable. The bag (11) is designed ofsufficient strength to withstand rupture in use, also when pressure onthe bag (11) is exerted in typical wearing conditions, such as sitting.

[0046] According to the present invention the bag (11) material cancomprise one or multiple layers, preferably two or three layers. Thelayer on the inside of the bag (11), which will typically at leastpartially come in contact with faecal material or urine is called theinner layer. The outermost layer of the bag (11), which will typicallyat least partially come in contact with the skin to the wearer and thegarments of the wearer, is called the outer layer.

[0047] The layers of the bag (11) material may comprise any material,preferably so that the bag (11) is liquid impervious. The layers may inparticular comprise any material such as non-wovens or films. In apreferred embodiment of the present invention a laminate may be formedfrom a non-woven layer and a film. The laminate can be formed by meansknown to the man skilled in the art.

[0048] Any non-woven layer can comprise felt fabrics, spunlaced fabrics,fluid jet entangled fabrics, air-laid fabrics, wet-laid fabrics,dry-laid fabrics, melt-blown fabrics, staple fibre carding fabrics,spunbonded fabrics, stitch-bonded fabrics, apertured fabrics,combinations of the above or the like.

[0049] Suitable film materials for any of said layers preferablycomprise a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material can beselected from among all types of hot-melt adhesives, polyolefinsespecially polyethylene, polypropylene, amorphous polyolefins, and thelike; material containing meltable components comprising fibres orpolymeric binders including natural fibres such as cellulose—wood pulp,cotton, jute, hemp; synthetic fibres such as fibreglass, rayon,polyester, polyolefin, acrylic, polyamid, aramid, polytetrafluroethylenemetal, polyimide; binders such as bicomponent high melt/low meltpolymer, copolymer polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylacetate/chloride copolymer, copolymer polyamide, materials comprisingblends wherein some of the constituent materials are not meltable; airand vapour permeable materials including microporous films such as thosesupplied by EXXON Chemical Co., III, US under the designation EXXAIRE orthose supplied by Mitsui Toatsu Co., Japan under the designation ESPOIRNO; and monolithic breathable materials such as Hytrel™ available fromDuPont and Pebax™ available from ELF Atochem, France.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment a film, which is comprised in anylayer, is preferably permeable to gases such as air and to vapour suchas water vapour in order to avoid the problem of entrapment andcondensation of moisture vapour given off by the body of the wearer andthus, the hot, clammy and uncomfortable conditions after a short periodof use.

[0051] The outer layer of the bag (11) material may comprise a non-wovenlayer. Such material layers present an uneven surface to the skin of thewearer and thus reduce significantly the problem of occlusion andgreatly improve skin healthiness.

[0052] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention the bag (11)material comprises two layers. Preferably the outer layer comprises anon-woven layer and the inner layer comprises a film.

[0053] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, thebag (11) material comprises three layers, preferably one film and twonon-woven layers. In an even more preferable embodiment the film isinterposed between the two non-woven layers. This sequence of layersresults in a closed fibrous structure, which has a particularly pleasingsensation on contact with the skin of the wearer. In yet anotherpreferred embodiment the inner layer comprises a film and the other twolayers comprise non-wovens.

[0054] The non-woven layer or the non-woven layers comprised by the bag(11) material may be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. If the bag (11)material does not comprise a film layer, preferably at least onenon-woven layer is hydrophobic. As a consequence, fluid penetration isresisted through the wearer facing portion (16) and the garment facingportion (17) of the human waste collection bag. As used herein thewearer facing portion (16) is to be understood as the portion of the bag(11) generally facing towards the wearer and the garment facing portion(17) is to be understood as the portion of the bag (11) generally facingthe garment of the wearer. Both portions are typically in contact withother portions of the present diapering system (200) and not in directcontact with the wearer or any of the wearers garments, respectively. Ifthe bag (11) material comprises a film or a hydrophobic non-woven layer,further non-woven layers may be hydrophilic.

[0055] Typically, the non-woven layer is treated with a surface activematerial, such as a fluorchemical or other hydrophobic finishings, toprovide the requisite hydrophobicity. The non-woven layer, however, mayequally be treated with coatings of liquid impervious materials such ashot-melt adhesives or coatings of silicone or other hydrophobiccompounds such as rubbers and vegetable and mineral waxes or it may bephysically treated using nano-particulates or plasma coating techniques,for example.

[0056] The non-woven layer can also be treated with agents to improvethe tactile perceivable softness of the wearer facing portion (16) andthe garment facing portion (17). The agents include but are not limitedto vegetable, animal or synthetic oils, silicone oils and the like. Thepresence of these agents are known to impart a silky or flannel-likefeel to the non-woven layer without rendering it greasy or oily to thetactile sense of the wearer. Additionally, surfactant material,including anionic, cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants, maybe added to further enhance softness and surface smoothness.

[0057] Furthermore, the non-woven layer may be impregnated with a lotionto provide desirable therapeutic or protective coating lotion benefits.The lotion coating on the wearer facing portion (16) and the garmentfacing portion (17) is transferable to the skin of the wearer by normalcontact and wearer motion and/or body heat. Generally, mineral oil inthe form of a lotion is recognised as being effective in imparting asoothing, protective coating to the skin of the wearer. It is alsopossible to impregnate the non-woven layer with a solid oil phase ofcream formulation or to incorporate into the non-woven layer an array ofpressure- or thermal- or hydrorupturable capsules containing forexample, baby oil.

[0058] According to the present invention, depending on the shape of thebag (11) required, the bag (11) may be provided from a unitary piece ofmaterial or a number of separate pieces of material, which may beidentical or different and which are sealed at their respectiveperipheries. The preferred shape of the bag (11) depends in particularon the intended use thereof, i.e. whether the device is intended forbedridden patients or active patients suffering from incontinence orrequiring an artificial bowel or for infants.

[0059] The bag (11) described herein preferably have a wearer facingportion (16) and a garment facing portion (17), which both compriseseparate pieces of material. The wearer facing portion (16) and thegarment facing portion (17) are sealed at the periphery of the bag (11),thus creating a bag peripheral rim (18). The wearer facing portion (16)and the garment facing portion (17) may each independently comprise morethan one section of material. Preferably the garment facing portion (17)comprises only one section of material; most preferably also the wearerfacing portion (16) comprises only one section of material.

[0060] The wearer facing portion (16), the garment facing portion (17)and the pieces of material comprised by either of these portions aresecured to each other by means known to the man skilled in the art, suchas adhesive, thermobonding or pressure bonding in order to provide thedesired bag configuration. The rim (18), at which the wearer facingportion (16) and the garment facing portion (17) are sealed together,may be provided inside the bag (11) rather than outside the bag (11),thus being coextensive with the inner surface (15) of the bag (11)rather than with the outer surface (30) of the bag (11).

[0061] Hence a variety of shapes of the bag (11) is within the scope ofthe present invention. Particularly, preferred shapes are flat circulartype bags, cone shaped bags, truncated cone shaped bags and pyramidal ortruncated pyramidal shaped bags and flat T shaped bags. For faecalcollection bags (10) the truncated cone shape is most preferred, whereasfor urine collection bags the flat T-shape is most preferred.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention the bag (11) maycontain absorbent material. The absorbent material may comprise anyabsorbent material which is capable of absorbing and retaining liquids.The absorbent material may comprise a wide variety of liquid-absorbentmaterials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbentarticles such as comminuted wood pulp, which is generally referred to asairfelt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include crepedcellulose wadding; meltblown polymers, including coform; chemicallystiffened, modified or cross-linked cellulosic fibers; tissue, includingtissue wraps and tissue laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges;superabsorbent polymers; absorbent gelling materials; or any other knownabsorbent material or combinations of materials.

[0063] The absorbent material may be positioned in the bag (11) in anysuitable manner. For example, the absorbent material may be looselyarranged within the bag (11) or may be secured to the inner surface (15)of the bag (11). Any known techniques for securing absorbent material tononwoven and film substrates may be used to secure the absorbentmaterial to the inner surface (15) of the bag (11). The absorbentmaterial may also be arranged to have any desired shape or configuration(e.g., rectangular, oval, circular, etc.). The bag (11) is provided withan aperture (21) whereby faecal matter or urine is received from thebody prior to storage within the bag (11) cavity. The aperture (21) issurrounded by a flange (12) and may be provided in any shape or size,such as circular, oblong, heart shaped and may be symmetrical orasymmetrical, preferably the aperture has an oblong configuration eitherin the longitudinal or in the transversal direction.

[0064] The flange (12) is attached to the bag (11 ) according to anymeans known to the man skilled in the art which may provide permanent orreleasable attachment. Preferably however, the flange is attached to thebag (11) by adhesive. Typically, the bag (11) will be attached to theflange, towards the outer periphery of flange so as not to cause anyobstruction for the entering faecal matter or urine.

[0065] The flange may be provided in any size depending on the wearergroup for which the device is intended. Similarly the flange may beprovided in any shape and preferably has a symmetrical shape preferablycomprising a plurality of lobes (14).

[0066] The flange comprises a garment facing portion (22) and a wearerfacing portion (23). In an preferred embodiment these are two large,substantially flat surfaces, however, the flange (12) may also compriseprojections, a front projection (28) and/or a rear projection (29), incase of a faecal collection bag (10) designed to fit the perineal and/orcoccygeal area of the wearer and in case of a urine collection bagdesigned to fit the genital and/or perineal area.

[0067] The flange (12) should be made of soft, flexible and malleablematerial to allow easy placement of the flange (12) to the perianal oruro-genital area. Typical materials include nonwoven materials, wovens,open celled thermoplastic foams, closed-cell thermoplastic foams,composites of open celled foams and stretch nonwoven, and films. Aclosed-cell foam of polyethylene has been found effective, but morepreferably an open celled polyurethane foam is used. Preferably, suchfoams have a thickness within the general range of 0.1 to 5 millimetresand a density of 5 to 250 g/m³, more preferably 50 g/m³. Otherthermoplastic foam materials, or other suitable plastics sheet materialshaving the described properties of such foams (i.e., softness,pliability, stretchability, and contractability) might also be used.Preferably, the material of garment facing portion (22) of the flange(12) may extend into the defined aperture area so as to form a skirt orflap of material which prevents unintentional adhesion of the surfaceedges of the flange (12) defining the aperture (21) to one anotherduring use.

[0068] According to the present invention the human waste collection bagfurther comprises an attachment means to secure the device to thewearer. Such means include straps and more preferably comprises abody-compatible pressure sensitive adhesive (20) applied to the wearerfacing portion (23) of the flange (12).

[0069] The adhesive (20) is preferably covered with a release means (notshown) in order to protect the adhesive (20), such as siliconised paper.The adhesive (20) can cover the entire wearer facing portion (23) of theflange (12), more preferably the flange (12) has at least one,preferably two to six non-adhesive portions. These portions may beadhesive free or may contain inactivated or covered adhesives. As isevident from FIG. 1, the adhesive is in one preferred embodiment notapplied to the entire wearer facing portion (23) of the flange (12), soas to provide lobes (14) on either side of the flange (12) which arenon-adhesive and can thereby serve to facilitate placement and removalof the device whilst avoiding contact with the adhesive. These lobes(14) are however preferably also covered by the release means. Beforeapplication of the human waste collection bag to the skin of the wearer,the release means if present is removed.

[0070] According to the present invention any medically approved waterresistant pressure sensitive adhesive may be used to attach the deviceto the perianal or uro-genital area of the wearer, such as hydrocolloidadhesives and hydrogel adhesives. Particularly effective adhesives inproviding the desired adhesive properties to secure the flange to theskin of the wearer at the sensitive perianal area, whilst allowing forrelatively painless application and removal, are formed fromcrosslinking polymers with a plastisicer to form a 3-dimensional matrix.

[0071] The adhesive (20) can be applied to the wearer facing portion(23) of the flange (12) by any means known in the art such as slotcoating, spiral, or bead application or printing. Typically the adhesive(20) is applied at a basis weight of from 20 g/m² to 2500 g/m², morepreferably from 500 g/m² to 2000 g/m² most preferably from 700 g/m² to1500 g/m² depending on the end use envisioned. For example, for humanwaste collection bags to be used for babies the amount of adhesive (20)may be less than for human waste collection bags designed for activeadult incontinence sufferers.

[0072] The Absorbent Component

[0073] The absorbent component comprises an absorbent material.Preferred absorbent materials are listed below for a diaper component.Preferably the absorbent component comprises further a topsheet and abacksheet. Preferred topsheet and backsheet materials are also listedbelow for a diaper component. Preferably the absorbent material isdisposed in-between the topsheet and the backsheet.

[0074] Preferred absorbent components comprise sanitary napkins, pantyliners and adult incontinence pads, as disclosed for example in WO91/16873 and WO 99/27877. A highly preferred absorbent component is adiaper component which comprises substantially all elements of aconventional diaper, which however comprises the adaptations describedabove (particularly a reduced amount of absorbent material, an orificeto transfer human waste into the human waste collection bag componentand means of integration of the bag component). The preferred elementsof a diaper component to be used for the diapering system (200) aredescribed hereinafter with regard to a conventional diaper.

[0075]FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a conventionaldiaper (50). As is visible from FIG. 3, a preferred conventional diaper(50) comprises a body portion (52) and a refastenable mechanicalfastening device (54). A preferred body portion (52) comprises a liquidpervious topsheet (56), and absorbent core (58), a liquid imperviousbacksheet (60), and elastically contractible leg cuffs (62); each legcuff (62) preferably comprising a side flap (64) and one or more elasticmembers (66). For simplicity purposes, only one elastic member (66) isshown in the side flap (64). While the topsheet (56), the absorbent core(58), the backsheet (60), the side flaps (64), and the elastic members(66) may be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations. Apreferred disposable diaper configuration is shown and generallydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003, an even more preferred disposablediaper configuration is shown and generally described in WO 93/16669. Inthis preferred diaper configuration, the backsheet (60) is joined to thetopsheet (56); the absorbent core (58) is positioned between thetopsheet (56) and the backsheet (60); the side flaps (64) extendoutwardly from and along each side edge of the absorbent core (58); andthe elastic member (66) is operatively associated with each side flap(64).

[0076]FIG. 3 shows the body portion (52) in which the topsheet (56) andthe backsheet (60) are coextensive and have length and width dimensionsgenerally larger than those of the absorbent core (58). The topsheet(56) is superposed on the backsheet (60) thereby forming the periphery(68) of the body portion (52).

[0077] The body portion (52) has an inside surface (74) and an outsidesurface (76). When a backsheet (60) is used, it typically forms theoutside surface (76) of the body portion (52). The inside surface (74)is that surface of the conventional diaper (50) opposite the outsidesurface (76) and in the embodiment shown is typically formed by thetopsheet (56). In general, the inside surface (74) of the conventionaldiaper (50) is that surface coextensive with the outside surface (76)and which is for the greater part in contact with the wearer when theconventional diaper (50) is worn.

[0078] The absorbent core (58) of the body portion (52) may be anyabsorbent means which is generally compressible, conformable,non-irritating to the skin of the wearer, and capable of absorbing andretaining liquids such as urine and other certain bodily discharges. Theabsorbent core (58) may be manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes(for example, rectangular, hour-glass, “T”-shaped, asymmetric, etc.) andfrom a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used indisposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as comminuted woodpulp which is generally referred to as airfelt. Examples of othersuitable absorbent materials include creped cellulose wadding, meltblownpolymers including coform, crosslinked cellulosic fibers, tissueincluding tissue wraps, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges,superabsorbent polymers, absorbent gelling materials, or any equivalentmaterials or combinations of materials. The configuration andconstruction of the absorbent core (58) may also be varied (for example,the absorbent core (58) may have varying caliper zones, hydrophilicgradients, superabsorbent gradients, or lower average density and loweraverage basis weight acquisition zones; or may comprise one or morelayers or structures). Further, the size and absorbent capacity of theabsorbent core (58) may be varied to accommodate wearers ranging frominfants to adults.

[0079] The backsheet (60) is impervious to liquids (for example, urine)and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic film, preferably athermoplastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materialsmay also be used. As used herein, the term “flexible” refers tomaterials which are compliant and which will readily conform to thegeneral shape and contours of the human body. The backsheet (60)prevents the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core (58)from soiling articles which are in contact with the conventional diaper(50) such as undergarments and bedding. The backsheet (60) may thuscomprise polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene orpolypropylene, or composite materials such as film-coated non-wovenmaterial. Exemplary films are manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc.of Terre Haute, Ind., USA or BP-Chemical PlasTec, Rotbuchenstrasse 1,D-8000 München, Germany.

[0080] The backsheet (60) is preferably textured to provide a moreclothlike appearance. Further, the backsheet (60) may also permitvapours to escape from the absorbent core (58) while still preventingexudates from passing through the backsheet (60) by, for example, beingsupplied with microapertures. The size of the backsheet (60) is dictatedby the size of the absorbent core (58) and the exact diaper designselected.

[0081] The topsheet (56) of the diaper is compliant, soft feeling andnon-irritating to the skin of the wearer. Further, the topsheet (56) isliquid pervious permitting liquids (for example, urine) to readilypenetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet (56) may bemanufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams,reticulated foams, apertured films; or woven or non-woven webs ofnatural fibres (for example, wood or cotton fibres) or from acombination of natural and synthetic fibres. Preferably, it is made of amaterial that isolates the skin of the wearer from liquids retained inthe absorbent core (58).

[0082] There are a number of manufacturing techniques which may be usedto manufacture the topsheet (56). For example, the topsheet (56) may bea non-woven web of fibres. An exemplary topsheet (56) is carded andthermally bonded by means well-known to those skilled in the fabric art.A suitable topsheet (56) is manufactured by, for example, Veratec Inc.,a division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Mass., USA. Atopsheet (56) particularly preferred for incontinence garments comprisesa formed thermoplastic film.

What is claimed is:
 1. A diapering system comprising a human wastecollection bag integral with an absorbent component outside of saidhuman waste collection bag.
 2. A diapering system according to claim 1,wherein said human waste collection bag is a faecal collection bag (10).3. A diapering system according to claim 1, wherein said human wastecollection bag is a urine collection bag.
 4. A diapering systemaccording to any one of the preceding claims, said human wastecollection bag comprising a flange (12), wherein said human wastecollection bag further comprises an adhesive disposed on said flange(12).
 5. A diapering system according to any one of the preceding claimswherein said human waste collection bag further comprises absorbentmaterial.
 6. A diapering system according to any one of the precedingclaims, said diapering system comprising a topsheet (56), wherein saidtopsheet (56) is comprised by both said human waste collection bag andsaid absorbent component.
 7. A diapering system according to any one ofthe preceding claims, said diapering system comprising a backsheet (60),wherein said backsheet (60) is comprised by both said human wastecollection bag and said absorbent component.
 8. A diapering systemaccording to any one of the preceding claims wherein said absorbentcomponent is a diaper component (100).
 9. A diapering system accordingto claim 7, said diaper component (100) comprising a topsheet (56) and abacksheet (60), wherein said human waste collection bag is positionedbetween said topsheet (56) and said backsheet (60) of said diapercomponent (100).
 10. A diapering system according to claim 8, said humanwaste collection bag comprising a wearer facing portion (16) and agarment facing portion (17), said wearer facing portion (16) comprisingan outer layer and said garment facing portion (17) comprising an outerlayer, wherein substantially no absorbent material is in direct contactwith said outer layer of said wearer facing portion (16) and said outerlayer of said garment facing portion (17) of said human waste collectionbag.